Richard Gross, Ph.D.
– Founder & Chief
Technology Officer
Rich is the inventor of the concept
of biobased ω-hydroxyfatty acid monomers and
their polymers from triglyceride feedstocks. He
discovered new technological approaches for amplifying
the biological activity and fine-tuning the
physico-mechanical properties of surfactants produced
by microbes. Rich founded SyntheZyme in 2008 to pursue
major opportunities in developing biocatalytic routes
to bio-based monomers, polymers and surfactants. At
SyntheZyme, Rich leads the core biocatalytic chemistry
technology and discovery group.
Rich has more
than 22 years experience working at the interface between
biocatalysis, chemistry and polymers. He has held faculty
positions at the University of Massachusetts (Lowell
campus) and the Polytechnic Institute of NYU (formerly
“Brooklyn Poly” where he is the Herman F. Mark Professor.
His research has primarily focused on both whole cell and
immobilized enzyme routes to polymers and surfactants. He
was President of the U.S. Society for Biodegradable
Plastics in 1998 and is well known as a leader in that
field. In 2003, he received the Presidential Green
Chemistry award for his work on biocatalytic routes to
polymers. In
Rich received
his Ph.D. at “Brooklyn Poly” in 1986 and was a postdoctoral
fellow with Bob Lenz and Clint Fuller at UMASS Amherst
(86-88) working on bacterial polyester.
Contact: rgross@synthezyme.com
